Air Canada workers beat back Carney’s anti-union attack

Update - Air Canada workers have overwhelmingly rejected the deal.

 

From the union:

 

The momentum was strong, and as they made it clear they weren’t afraid of fines or jails, the demonstrations grew. They were met by the cheers from workers from many unions including a large contingent from the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (which struck last year and is in negotiations with Canada Post), Machinists, Steelworkers, the Ontario Public Service Employees Union, as well as many other CUPE locals, all  pledging to stand with the defiant strikers.

 

Education workers show solidarity

 

Education workers from the Ontario School Boards Council of Unions (OSBCU) were out in strong numbers as well. They stated, “When OSBCU members walked out in 2022 CUPE AC attendants stood with us. Today, we return that support—loud, proud and united. We’ve walked this road before. We know what solidarity can do. And we’re with you every step of the way.” They previously defied back to work legislation facing individual $4000 a day fines. The threat of a general strike forced the Ontario government to back down. 

 

Standing strong the flight attendants went back to the table and a tentative agreement was reached. But there is a large “Vote No” campaign, and it may be rejected because many of the members feel that more can be won. Let’s keep up the support!

 

The federal government’s back to work order showed contempt for the workers who were fighting for better wages and conditions, and importantly an end to unpaid work when not in the air. They were told to go back after only 12 hours on the picket line, giving all the cards to Air Canada management. The strikers gained broad public support when it became known what they were fighting for. As one traveler said on CBC, “What is more important - a vacation, or people being paid for what they do.”

 

Fight for the right to strike!

 

Both provincial and federal governments have been treating workers with impunity taking away their democratic right to withdraw their labour. 

 

More and more they are invoking legislation ordering strikers back to work when they are inconveniencing the captains of industry, or dealing with governments that will not bargain in good faith. 

 

In the last year alone Ottawa used this against port, rail, postal and airline workers. They invoked section 107 of the Canadian Labour Code to “maintain or secure industrial peace”. All they have to do to is contact the Canadian Industrial Relations Board and tell them to order strikers back to their jobs.

 

But this only works if strikers obey the order. We have seen the courage of the OSBCU members in 2022 and now the air flight attendants who used their collective power to give a resounding “NO”. They did not stand alone. They had strong and militant solidarity from fellow workers and the public. In both instances the employers backed down seemingly shocked that workers had the courage to stand up to their unfair practices and that they garnered such broad support when doing so.

 

Times are tough for everyone right now. Jobs are scarce, layoffs and closures are happening, the affordability crisis is hitting the working class in all our diversity very hard. We are seeing deportations, the rise of racism and right wing ideologies, rent hikes, families losing their homes. There is real empathy and solidarity when people stand up against those who are trying to drive them into the ground.

 

The Canadian Union of Postal Workers is still in a live fight with Canada Post and those workers need the same level of solidarity as the air flight attendants to win their battle against privatization and part time work. It is imperative that the leaders of the trade union movement come out strongly in their defense.

 

Carney is attacking on every front. There are cross country rallies (“Draw The Line”), being planned for September 20th taking on Bill 5 in Ontario and Bills C5 and C2 from the federal government. They are linking migrant organizations, First Nations, climate justice groups and unions fighting “a hard border”, the tearing up of treaties with Indigenous peoples, deportations, the doing away with environmental protections and labour rights in “economic zones”.

 

The courageous air flight attendants are showing the way forward, and their struggle is teaching many lessons. We have to continue to build on the momentum of those workers and organize a united fight back against the ongoing attacks.